Machine for reclaiming yarn from knitted fabric



J1me 1935- H. WESTKOTT 2,003,777

MACHINE FOR RECLAIMING YARN FROM KNITTED FABRIC Filed Jan. 11, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l 55 7 15 52 a 45 Q 3 f F1. :5- -l- 54 I III/ : BY L 1- ATTORN June 4, 1935. H, WESTKOTT MACHINE FOR RECLAIMING YARN FROM KNITTED FA BRIC Filed Jan. 11, 1933 s Sheets-Sheet 2 mummy niwvllluilumu IIHIIII ATTORNEY.

June 4, 1935. H. WESTKOTT 2,003,777

MACHINE FOR RECLAIMING YARN FROM KNITTED FABRIC I Filed Jan. 11, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FlE- l 4" Jgn lll a ATTOR1 EY- Patented June 4, 1935 PATENT 7 OFFICE MACHINE FOR RECLAIMI NG YARN-FROM- KNITTED FABRIC Hans Westkott, West Reading, Pa., assignor. to Berkshire Knitting Mills, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 11, 1933, Serial No. 651,114

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for reclaiming thread from imperfect knitted fabric, by pulling the thread in a manner to unravel successively formed courses of stitches of which the fabric is composed; and by winding the thread upon a suitable spool, bobbin, reel, core, or other package-forming element for use in reknitting or other desirable purposes.

The present invention relates more particularly to mechanism for releasing the threadpulling element from .the mechanism by which it is operated to pull the thread. The threadpulling element in the present instance constitutes the core element upon which the thread is wound.

One object of the invention is to provide sensitive and effective releasing mechanism for the core element, whereby rotation of the core element in a direction to wind the thread thereon will be immediately arrestedwhen the tension on the thread, intermediate the core element and the fabric being unraveled, attains a predetermined value, less than the tensile strength of the thread.

Another object of the invention is-to provide means whereby the amount of release resistance may be varied in accordance with the tensile strength of thethread of the fabric that is to be unraveled.

The machine chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention is of the type including a friction drive for the core element,-

which comprises a constantly rotating friction element and a cooperating releasable friction element, which latter is operatively connected to the core element upon whichthe thread is to be wound.

In machines of this type, according to the prior art, when the tension on the thread attains a predetermined value the rotary winding motion of the core element is automatically interrupted. Release of the core element from the constantly rotating drive element permits the core element to rotate reversely, under the tension built up in the thread, whereby a portion of the thread unwinds from the core element, which effects slackening of the tension in the thread, intermediate the core element and the fabric being unraveled. slackening of the thread automatically permits the reestablishment of the friction drive, whereby the core element is again rotated in a direction to wind the thread thereon. Such alternate release and application of the drive effects an intermittent jerking of the thread, which, if continued, causes the thread to be broken, the loose end of the thread in some instances becoming entangled in the moving elements of the machine. I

Another object or" the invention isto provide means whereby the core-rotating means is held incomplete ineffective relation to the constantlyrotating element of the friction drive, from the moment of its release therefrom until the cause of the excessive resistance confronting the unraveling of the thread from the fabric has been removed, whereby intermittent jerking of the thread is effectively prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake for the core element which will become effective simultaneously with the release of the core element from the constantly rotating 'element of the friction drive, whereby reverse rotation of the core element is arrested and the thread held under suflicient tension to keep it in a firmly wound condition on the core element while the latter remains in' a quiescent state.

The mechanism forming the subject'matter of the present invention is particularly applicable to theunraveling of present day non-run fabbric, wherein the interlocking of the stitches is such that the thread is'more apt to become snarled at the point of unravelingthan is the thread of plain knitted fabrics.

The construction and operation of the mechanism forming the subject of the present invention, and its application to and cooperation With the elements of a machine of the type noted, will be fully disclosed. hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a machine equipped in accordance I with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine in Fig. l; V

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, drawn a, an enlarged scale, of a single pulling'and w d ing head of the machine shown in Figyzf Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional el'e vation' taken on the line 4- -4,"Fig; 1; withthef elements shown in normal pulling and winding relation to the driving mechanism; a'ri'd' Fig. 5 is a view similarto Figi l-showingthe elements in the positions assumed upon'leiices sive tension developing in 't hefthr' 'ead interm' diate the core element 'and*the'fab'ric being l d t' mi H";

Themachine in stern com ris pa end frames l a'nd; respectively, one or'more' center frames (not shown? which are rigidly maintained laterallys acer relation to 5 each shown other by means of longitudinally extending spacing bars 3, 3 and 4, 4 respectively.

Secured to the end frame I, in the present instance, is a motor-supporting bracket 5 upon which is mounted an individual motor 6. The motor 6 is operatively connected, by means of a belt 1, to a pulley 8 which is secured to a transversely extending shaft 9. The shaft 9 is rotatably mounted in bearings |0, carried by the end frame I. Secured on the opposite ends of the transversely extending shaft 9 are beveled pinions II respectively. The: bevel pinions intermesh with beveled gears I2, I 2 respectively, which are respectively secured to corresponding ends of a pair of longitudinally extending shafts l3, l3. The longitudinal shafts l3,

l3 are rotatably mounted in bearings I4, M and |5, carried by the end frames land 2 respectively.

Secured to the opposite end of eachof the shafts l3, l3, adjacent to the end frame 2,-is a pinion |5 which intermeshes with a gear I! rotatably mounted on the end frame 2. The gear I! is provided with a pinion |8 which is secured thereto and intermeshes with a gear l9 which is secured to a shaft 20. The shaft is rotatably mounted in a bearing 2| secured to the end frame 2. Secured to each shaft 20 is a circular cam 22 having a laterally varying cam track 23 against which bears a cam follower 24. The cam follower 24 is carried by the upper end of an arm 25 which is pivotally mounted at 25 to a bracket 21 secured to the end frame 2. The arms 25, 25 areoperatively connected by a transversely extending bar 28, at the center of which is connected one end of a spring 29, the opposite end of which is secured to the end frame 2 and functions to rock the arms 25, 25 on their pivots andto hold thecam followers 24, 24 in resilient contact with the cam tracks 23, 23 of the circular cams 22, 22,, whereby rotation of said cams effects rocking motion of the arms 25, 25 in unison.

Secured to each of the shafts l3, l3 in laterally spaced relation to each other longitudinally of said shafts is aseries of friction wheels 30, 39, each of which is adapted to have peripheral contact with the peripheral surface of a friction pinion 3| secured to one end of a core element 32 upon which the thread of a piece of fabric to be unraveled is arranged to be wound.

In the present instance, the winding cores 32 are eachin the form of a spool comprising a cylindrical body and a flange 33 at each end thereof, whereby the thread is wound on said cylindrical body intermediate the said end flanges of the core element.

,Each core element or spool 32, in the present instance, is provided with either a pair of trunnionsintegrally secured thereto and projecting inppposite ,directions from the opposite ends thereof or, a spindle 34 extending completely th TQu hihesp ol, axially thereof, and beyond the; opposite ends thereof, to provide trunnions for-rotatablysupporting the spool with the friction pinion 3 I thereof in peripheral contact with theconstantly rotating, drive wheel secured tothe shaft, 13 The trunnion 35 affordedby 1eend.. 9 M183! 1 lto n ed i a sub tan ially,c rsh red .i 91 topped socket bearing 36 formed in one side of a bracket 3'1. f Qi i liaaf um PFQYiQfiQWi a head 38 which'is secured by eans'of clamp bolt 39 ne emp nae- 1a nti ih said 75 situd na x'sezstendinse. ea-Lbars-fl. 4 which are disposed in relatively close parallel relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 4.

The trunnion 4|, afforded by the second end of the spindle 34, is rotatably mounted in a V-shaped open-mouthed bearing 42, which is formed in the side of the bracket 37 opposite that in which the open-mouthed bearing 36 for the trunnion 35 is formed. However, the bearing 42 is provided with a step 43 disposed in vertically spaced relation to the bottom 44 of the bearing 42, in which the trunnion 4| normallyrests, the trunnion 4| being disposed at the end of the spool 32 at which the friction pinion 3| of the spool is located for purposes which will be hereinafter described.

The brackets 37, 3'! are similar in construction, each having one of the open-mouthed bearings 36 on one side and one of the openmouthed step bearings 42 on the opposite side, and the brackets are so arranged on the supports 4, 4 as to provide a pair of the said bearings for each of the spools supported by and between each pair of brackets. Rotatably mounted in the outer end of each of the brackets 37 is a roller 45 upon the periphery of which is adapted to roll a longitudinally extending bar 45. Two of these bars 43 are provided, one at each side of the machine and each bar is operatively connected at one of its endsto one of the rocking arms 25, said bar being laterally guided by and between opposed faces 4'| and 48 of a deep groove 49 in which the roller 45 is mounted.

Each of the bars 46 is provided with thread guides 50, 55, each of which is adapted to trav' erse the face of one of the spools 32, between the planes of the inner surfaces of the flanges thereof to lay the thread in superposed convolute layers upon the core element 32 during rotation of the shafts l3, l3 and the circular cams 22 by which the core elements 32, 32 are rotated and the bars 46, 43 reciprooated longitudinally, as the core elements respectively draw the threads from independent pieces of fabric as the fabric is raveled.

The fabric or fabrics to be raveled may be supported in any suitable manner and in the present instance a rack is provided above the various winding and unraveling heads, each of which includes one of the core elements 32. The rack in the present instance comprises a pair of vertically extending uprights 5|, 5! which may be supported in any suitable manner from andby any convenient relatively fixed portion of the machine.

Extending between the uprights 5|, 5| is a series of cross bars 52, 52 on each of which is disposed'a series of clamp straps 53 which may be of a spring nature. Each series of clamps 53 is secured to a hook bar 54. Each hook bar is provided with a series of hooks 55 on which a piece of fabric X, to be unraveled, may be attached, preferably along one edge X thereof with the opposite edge X free and depending therefrom. The raveling ,of the fabric necessarily progresses coursewise of the fabric, consequently the fabric X will be hung with the edge X thereof substantially parallel to the supporting bar 54. Obviously, an exceptionally long piece of fabric may have one edge, such as that illustrated at X fastened to the hooks 55 after which the fabric may be folded and a portion thereof intermediate the edges X and X attached to the hooks, in order to suspend the raveling edge X at a desired distance :abovethe raveling. and winding headspf-the machine. The thread a; of which the fabric'iscomposed is led from the edge X of the fabric, down around and under a thread guide which is, carried on the outer end of a tension. arm 6|, the opposite end of which is pivotally mounted at 62 in a bracket :63 which, in .the present in stance, is secured to the longitudinal'spacer bars 4, 4 by the clamp bolt 39 by whichthe bracket 3] is secured in place. Adjacent the outer end of the tension arm 6|, within a notch 64 formed in said arm, is a resistance rod 65, to the lower end of which is permanently secured a weight. '66, which is adapted to support one or more superposed and readily detachable weight plates .-6|, by which the amount of tension in the thread a: necessary to release the spool 32 from the driving wheel 30 is accuratelydetermined. The thread :1), after passing under the thread guide160, passes upwardly through the thread guide 5|) of the traversing bar 46 to and around the spool 32, and in order to permit lateral movement of the thread x with respectto the thread guide 60, to prevent added tension being placed on the thread by reason of the motion of the traversing bar 48, each thread guide 60 is of the elongated open type, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. I

Intermediate its opposite ends, each of the tension arms 6| is provided with a shoe 68 which normally is disposed immediately adjacent to the periphery of the flange 33 at one end of the spool 32 in the plane intersecting that of the flange 33, which is disposed at the end of the spool to which the driving pinion 3| is secured. In order to prevent the thread guide 60 from dropping under the influence of the Weights 68 andBl, as a result of breakage of the thread :2, the tension arm 6| is constructed in,a manner illustrated in 'Figs. 3 and 4. Each tension arm 6| is formed. of a piece of heavy gage wire bent, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, sub-' stantially at right angles to the body of the arm to provide a pivot portion 69 Whichis rotatably mounted in a lug 10 formed on the bracket 63. The arm BI is provided with an end portion 12 extending substantially parallel to the body portion of the arm 6|, as pro duced' by bending the end of the wire at right angles to the pivot portion 69 of therarm. The end T2 of the arm 6| is arranged to bear on a horizontal extension 13 of the bracket 63 adjacent to the bearing 10 for the tension arm 6|, whereby the arm 6| will be suspended in a substantially horizontal plane.

When the tension on the thread :c overcomes the resistance to the lifting of-the'arm 6|, as afforded by the weights 66 and 61, the tension in the thread ac will cause the tension arm 6| to swing upwardly about its pivot, bringing the shoe 68 into contact; with the periphery of the flange 33 of the spool 32. Continued raising of the arm 6|, as the thread is wound on the spool 32 by rotation thereof through the medium of the wheel 30, causes the trunnion 4| of the spool 32 to be raised out of its socket bearing 44 in the bracket 31, to or beyond the level of the horizontal portion 43a of the step 43 in said bracket adjacent to said bearing, whereby the pinion 3|, at the one end of the spool 32, is raised clear of and out of contact with the peripheral surface of the friction wheel 30, whereby rotation of the spool 32, in a direction to wind the thread a: thereon, is immediately arrested. The tendency of thespool 32 ,is then to rotate in a direction to cause unwinding of the thread a: therefrom. This tendency, in the present instance; is; utilized ,to displace the trunnion from its raised position in v vertical alignmentwithxits socket bearing 44 into a laterally' disposed position in vertical alignment with'the horizontal" portion 43a of the step 42: in the bracket3li adjacent .to the bearing 44.

Lateral displacementof the trunnion 4i, above noted, is effected byithe peripheral sur: face of the spool flange L33 rolling on the upper surface'of the brake shoe 68 carried thetension arm 6|. This rolling contact between theperiphery of the flange 33 'andwthe. shoe 68 moves the trunnion 4| laterally; into contact with an abutment r431) extending ertically from the horizontal portion 43a of the S BD Further rotation of the spool 32 in a direction which would. unwind the thread at from said spool is prevented by the frictional contact betweenthe periphery of the flange 33 and the brake shoe 68, wherebythethread is maintained under-tension and keeps the said thread from becoming loose on the spool 32, said tension also maintaining the trunnion 4| on the step 43 oithe bracket3l, whereby reengagement between the constantly rotating drive wheel 3|] and the pinion 3| carried by-the spool 32 is eifectively prevented.

Normal operation of the misplaced spool may be restored, by removing the cause for the abnormal resistance to the unraveling of the thread at the point where the thread it leaves the fabric X, whereupon the tension in the thread It is slackened permitting the arm 6| to drop under the influence of the weights and 61; and by manually removing the trunnion 4| from-the step 43 and placing it in its bearing 43, whereby peripheral engagement between the wheel 3|! and the pinion 3| is restored.

I claim:

1. A 'machine for reclaiming thread from knitted fabric comprising a thread pulling member, a constantly operated driving member therefor, a support for said thread pulling member, a second support for said member, and means operative when the tension on the thread exceeds a predetermined amount for causing that portion of the thread under tension to exert force on said threadpulling member to move themember from the first mentioned support to the second mentioned support.

2. A machine for reclaiming thread from knitted fabric comprising a support for a body of fabric to be unraveled, a thread pulling member, a constantly operated driving member therefor, a support for said thread pulling member, a second support for said.- member positioned above the first mentioned support, and means operative when the tension on the thread reaches a predetermined amount for causing that portion of the thread under tension to exert force on said thread pulling member to raise the member out of its driven engagement within the first mentioned support, said means being effective when the thread stops unraveling to raise the thread pulling member to the second mentioned support whereby this member is held permanently disengaged from its driving mem- 3. A machine for reclaiming thread from knitted fabric comprising a rotary thread pulling member having a peripheral driving surface, a trunnion projecting from one end of said pulling member, a bearing for said trunnion, a constantly rotating member having a peripheral driving surface in contact with the peripheral driving surface of said pulling member, a support for said trunnion adjacent said bearing, and means controlled by that portion of the thread under tension to exert force for moving said trunnion from said bearing to said support for effecting and maintaining disengagement of said peripheral driving surfaces when the thread becomes excessively taut. I

4. A machine for reclaiming thread from knitted fabric comprising a rotary thread pulling member having a peripheral driving surface, a trunnion projecting from one end of said pulling member, a bearing for said trunnion, a constantly rotating member having a peripheral driving surface in contact with the peripheral driving surface of said pulling member, a support for said trunnion adjacent said bearing, means controlled by that portion of the thread under tension to exert force for moving said trunnion from said bearing to said support for effecting and maintainingdisengagement of said peripheral driving surfaces when the threadbecomes excessively taut, said means stopping reverse rotation of said pulling element subsequent to said disengagement.

5. A machine for reclaiming thread from knitted fabric comprising a spool, a friction wheel on said spool, a constantly rotating friction wheel having peripheral driving engagement with the friction wheel of said spool forwinding the thread on said spool, a trunnion at one end of said spool adjacent said wheels, a bearing for said trunnion, a support for said trunnion adjacent said bearing, and means controlled by that portion of the thread under tension to exert force for shifting said trunnion from said bearing to said support to effect and maintain disengagement of said wheelswhen the thread becomes excessively taut.

6. A machine for reclaiming thread from knitted fabric comprising a spool, a flange on one end of said spool, a friction wheel on said spool adjacent said flange, a constantly rotating friction wheel, a trunnion on said spool adjacent the friction wheel thereon, a bearing for said trunnion normally supporting said end of said spool with said friction wheels in operative driving engagement to wind said thread on said spool, a support for said trunnion adjacent said bearing, and a lever controlled by that portion of said thread under tension and arranged to engage said flange for shiftingsaid trunnion from said bearing to said support to effect and maintain disengagement'of said wheels when the thread becomes excessively taut.

-7. A -machine for reclaiming thread from knitted fabric comprising a spool, a flange on one end of said spool, a-friction'wheel on said spool adjacent saidflange, a constantly rotating friction wheelya trunnion on said spool adjacent the friction wheel thereon, a bearing for said trunnion normally supporting said end of said spool with said friction wheels in operative driving engagement to wind said thread on said spool, a support for said trunnion adjacent said bearing, a lever controlled by that portion of said thread under tension, and a shoe on said lever arranged to have rolling contact with said flange to shift said trunnion from said bearing to said support to effect and maintain disengagement of said wheels when the thread becomes excessively taut.

8. A machine for reclaiming thread from knitted fabric comprising a spool,'a flange on one end of said spool, a friction wheel on said spool'adjacent said flange, a constantly rotating friction wheel, a trunnion on said spool adjacent the friction wheel thereon, a bearing for said trunnion normally supporting said end of said spool with said friction wheels in operative driving engagement to wind said thread on said spool, a support for said trunnion adjacent said bearing, a lever controlled by that portion of said'thread under tension, a shoe on said lever arranged to have rolling contact with said flange to shift said trunnion from said bearing to said support to eifect and maintain disengagement of said wheels when the thread becomes excessively taut, and an abutment for arresting the rolling action of the flange on the shoe and preventing reverse rotation of said spool.

9. A machine for reclaiming thread from knitted fabric comprising a spool, a flange on one end of said spool, a friction wheel on said spool adjacent said flange, a constantly rotating friction wheel, a trunnion on said spool adjacent the friction wheel thereon, a bearing for said trunnion normally supporting said end of said spool with said friction wheels in operative driving engagement to wind said thread on said spool, a support for said trunnion adjacent said bearing, a lever controlled by that portion of said thread under tension, a shoe on said lever arranged to have rolling contact with said flange to shift said trunnion from said bearing to said support to effect and maintain disengagement of said wheels when the thread becomes excessively taut, an abutment for arresting the rolling action of the flange on the shoe and preventing reverse rotation of said spool, and means carried by said lever for determining the tension of the thread necessary to effect said shifting of the spool trunnion.

HANS WESTKOTT. 

